Movie theater possible in downtown Ravenna

Published: March 19, 2014 12:00AM

A downtown Ravenna site that housed a movie theater a century ago is expected to house a theater again.

Neighborhood Development Services Inc. has closed on the former Paul's Lumber building on North Chestnut Street. NDS plans to renovate it into a multiplex theater, and to demolish the Portage Tire building behind it.

On Feb. 14, 1914, the Victory Theatre opened on the same Meridian Street parcel. The Lee family purchased the site shortly thereafter and renamed it Lee's Theater. The site later became the site of the Ohio Theater, which was in operation for many years until being razed in 1960, according to The Ravenna Record.

The theater would be the first movie house in Ravenna since 1967, when the New Ravenna Theatre closed.

Mike Bogo of NDS said the 20,000-square-foot, eight-screen multiplex, tentatively set to be named the Ravenna Theater, is expected to draw 100,000 visitors a year. NDS also renovated an eight screen theater in Barberton, which is doing well, he noted.